Berberis plant named &#39;NCBT1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Berberis  cultivar named ‘NCBT1’ is disclosed, characterized by purple foliage and a distinctively compact and round plant habit. Plants have very low female fertility. The new variety is a  Berberis , normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea.

Variety denomination: ‘NCBT1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Berberis cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Thomas Ranney, in Mills River, N.C. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Berberis varieties with purple foliage, compact plant forms and low fertility. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during Spring of 2005.

The seed parent is an unpatented, unnamed Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea. The pollen parent is also an unpatented, unnamed Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea. Seed collected from this crossing was treated with ethyl methanesulfonate, to increase the likelihood of mutation. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in Summer of 2006, at a research nursery in Mills River, N.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ by stem cuttings was first performed during the Summer of 2007, at a research nursery in Mills River, N.C. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in three successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NCBT1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘NCBT1’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘NCBT1’ as a new and distinct Berberis cultivar;

-   -   1. Purple foliage.     -   2. Compact, rounded habit.     -   3. Very low female fertility.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Very low female fertility. Approximately 98.8 to 100%         reduction in female fertility relative to the seed parent.     -   2. Compact habit. The seed parent has a loose, open habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Very low female fertility. Approximately 98.8 to 100%         reduction in female fertility relative to the pollen parent.     -   2. Compact habit. The pollen parent has a loose, open habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NCBT1’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Berberis ‘Emerald Carousel’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘NCBT1’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit, this comparator is a large plant with a         spreading habit.     -   2. Burgundy/red leaf color, whereas the comparator has a green         leaf color.     -   3. Very low female fertility, whereas this comparator is highly         fruitful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘NCBT1’ grown in an outdoor flower bed.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a plant of ‘NCBT1 in a three gallon nursery container’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘NCBT1’ plants grown outdoors in a research nursery in Mills River, N.C. Measurements were taken during the Spring and Summer of 2015. The plants were 2-3 years old, field grown. The growing temperature ranged from approximately −10° C. to 35° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea     ‘NCBT1’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at approximately 27°             C.         -   Root description.—Density is moderate to dense, fibrous,             freely branching. Medium root thickness. White to brown in             color, not effectively measured with a color chart.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 90 days at 27°             C. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant type.—Cold hardy shrub.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2-3 years old.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, low and spreading.         -   Pot size of plant described.—Field grown plants.         -   Overall plant shape.—Mound.         -   Height.—40 cm.         -   Plant spread.—60 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Branching characteristics.—Alternate whorled.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Average 19 cm, typical             range 8 to 24 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—1 to 3 mm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Average 33.         -   Stem.—Stem Appearance: Matte Stem Strength: Strong Color:             Near RHS Purple N77A Pubescence: None.         -   Internode length.—Average 12 mm, typical range 7 to 20. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate whorled, single Leaf shape:             Obovate to rounded Average Length: 21 mm, typical range 12             to 28 mm Average Width: 15 mm, typical range 6 to 18 mm.             Apex: Mucronate Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Texture of             top surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture of bottom surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Purple N77A . Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 183D. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Purple N187B Venation: Pattern: Pinnate, irregular.             Color upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Color under             side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B Petiole: Average Length: 1             mm Diameter: 1 mm Petiole color upper side: Near RHS Purple             N77A Petiole color lower side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187B             Petiole Texture upper side: Smooth Petiole Texture lower             side: Smooth Foliage durability: Foliage very durable to             stress. Spines: Form: Attached to plant nodes, occurring 1             per node. Size: Average 7 mm long, typical range 4 to 8 mm.             Less than 1 mm wide. Color: Near RHS Purple N77A. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Umbellate Fascicles. Axial             occurring along underside of branches.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—2 weeks.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3 to 8.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—500 to 1000.         -   Individual flowers.—Flower shape: Star shaped Flower aspect:             Outwardly drooping Flowering arrangement: Terminal Size:             Diameter: Approximately 5 mm Depth: Approximately 9 mm             Flower Other Characteristics: Persistence: Self cleaning.             Fragrance: Not noted.         -   Bud.—Shape: Rounded, globose Length: 3 to 4 mm Diameter: 3             to 4 mm Color: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A.         -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Whorl Number of petals per flower:             5 to 6 Petal Shape: Elliptic Petal Base: Obtuse Margin:             Entire Tip shape: Obtuse Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Texture:             Upper: Smooth Lower: Smooth.         -   Petal color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow             12C flushed Red 46A Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 12C Fully             opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 12A Lower surface:             Near RHS Yellow 12C.         -   Sepal.—Arrangement: Whorl Appearance: Smooth Number: 6             Shape: Roughly orbicular. Tip: Acute to obtuse Base: Acute             to obtuse Margin: Entire Length: 4 mm Width: 3 mm Texture,             Upper: Smooth Texture, Lower: Smooth Color: Upper surface at             maturity: Near RHS Yellow-green 145B Under surface at             maturity: Near RHS Yellow-green 145B.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 6 mm Diameter: Less than 1 mm Color: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 146B Orientation: Upright/outward Strength:             Good Texture: Smooth/glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 6 Filament length: about 1 mm Filament             color: Near RHS green 137B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular Length: About 1 mm Color: Near RHS             Yellow 12A Pollen color: Near RHS Yellow 12A Pollen amount:             Some.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower Length: about 3 mm Style:             Length: About 3 mm Color: Near RHS Red 46A Stigma: Color:             Near RHS Yellow 2A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Very rarely observed.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Berberis have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between −31° C. to 38° C.         -   Environmental stressors.—Good resistance to wind and rain. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Berberis plant named ‘NCBT1’ as herein illustrated and described. 